ang former pet blog ng pamilyang hamster

Since the beginning, I do not intend to keep more than a dozen. Four is ideal, or six maybe, especially for such solitary creatures that need to be caged separately. That means if you have twelve Syrian hamsters, you need twelve individual cages. *gasp!*

Hamsters multiply at a very fast rate (buti pa sila). A female can give birth to an average of six to eight babies after only 16 days of pregnancy (sana kami ni misis ganun din). 😆 To prevent a possible complete “hamster takeover” of my house, I have chosen to give each of my female hamster only one chance of producing a litter. By the way, I am proud to tell you that my hamsters, male or female, are all monogamous. Walang kabit, walang sabit.

[To my readers who don’t understand Tagalog: the words in italics above is a Filipino“joke”(tsk tsk tsk) and will lose its ‘humor’ if translated in English… my apologies.]

I also give away hamsters for free, keeping only one or two from a new litter for me. My only requirement for prospective pet-owners is a safe and decent cage that is especially designed for hamsters, with an exercise wheel and a drinking bottle. There are a lot to chose from in almost all pets shops locally.

But sometimes, some people who have made ‘reservations’ don’t want to take the cost of buying a cage. In such cases I am always firm: NO cage, NO hamster. If they just want a toy for their kids, I discourage them from owning any pet. Pets are not toys… they are living animals.

Here they are, grouped according to their respective litters. Their ages as of this date are also indicated. All the photos are ‘clickable’ and will link you directly to my flickr photos.

The CHIAROSCUROGANG (age: 1 year 7 months 20 days)

The senior citizens. These three are the oldest in the family. They belong to the 4th generation. They are the litters of Blakdyak and Snow White (both departed).

Isnowitwit Kotonbol (Snowitwit Cottonball) ♀

Isnobol (Snowball) ♂

Ispidbol (Speedball) ♂

The PANAPANAGANG (age: 1 year 1 month 16 days)

The mid-lifers, more or less. These three are the litters of Isnowitwit and the late Arrow.

Mochahontas ♀

Mochawonka ♂ “the wiggler”

Isnohontas Kotonbol (Snowhontas Cottonball) ♀

The PANAPANA-II-GANG (age: 11 months 16 days)

The unexpected fraternal twin. This litter was unplanned and unexpected. The Panapanagang were not separated until after more than 40 days from their birth enabling the mating of the young siblings Mochawonka and Isnohontas. Only two (2) of the resulting six (6) pups survived, the other four died upon falling on the cold and damp bottom of the cage at birth. I didn’t know their mother was pregnant until I just heard squeaking inside the cage.

Teepee Pompom ♀ is the wife of Ispidbol. The couple are unable to sire on their first and second mating. After what happened to Beria-girdel, I didn’t aim for a third.

The BOOLAGANG (age: 8 months 9 days)

The posthumous litter. These three, along with three others including the late Beria-girdel, were born 11 days after their father Berio died. Mochahontas is their mother.

Bebong II ♂ and Berio II ♂ are still sharing a common cage as to this date — quite remarkable for Syrian hamsters.

Bebang-girdel ♀ is the laziest and drowsiest of all the family members. When awake, her habit, beside eating and grooming, is stretching and yawning. Mahihiya si Garfield.

The CHOCHOBEBES (age: 5 months 10 days)

The returning litter. These are the surviving litter of Chocho, a female who was given for adoption. When their mother died, Syma and Amboy were sent back to us. Isnobol is their father.

Syma ♀ is so far the grumpiest hamster in the family. She’s so ‘bitey’ nobody can handle her. It’s a real challenge to tame her, and I am optimistic about it.

Amboy ♂ is the youngest of all — the thirteenth hamster, so to speak. He was a candidate for adoption. But his physical condition the day he and her elder sister came back made me change my mind. He was then so small and skinny, nervous due to Syma continually harassing him. (Have you tried clicking on his smaller photo?)

That’s right… Amboy is a one-eye-blind hamster. This is probably(?) an injury inflicted by his sister when they were yet still babies.

And like what I was always saying: the smallest and the weakest always get most of my care and attention. The 13th hamster is now the first.